An advanced Heron MK-2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), was recently seen at Shirahama Airport in Japan during a test flight conducted by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
The UAV, designed for intelligence gathering, target acquisition, and electronic warfare, is part of Japan’s efforts to acquire advanced unmanned systems.
According to Defense Blog, Japanese military technology enthusiast Shiki Korua photographed the UAV, tail number 4X-NBB, which featured electronic surveillance pods under each wing, multiple antennas, and two grey panels on its fuselage—likely electronic warfare or intelligence-gathering components.
In February 2024, civilian groups learned during talks with Japan’s Ministry of Defense that the ministry had selected several UAV candidates, including Israeli-made strike drones, for evaluation under the 2023 defense budget. Israel reportedly held demonstration tests in Japan to support the process.